Song of the Day: Keaton Collective – Fallin’ Asleep

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Fallin’ Asleep” by Keaton Collective from the 2012 self-released album Tercera.

Now on their third self-produced full-length album, the Bellingham, Washington, group has blossomed from the initial unity of three separate bands that decided to stop traveling so damn much. Actually, Keaton Collective was and is a label, but the resulting band is a combination of Bellinghamites Chad Fox (guitar) and Bill Jennings (bass) who teamed up with Californians Alex Jones (guitar), Adam Taniguchi (guitar), J.D. Ucls (drums), and Ricky Penalba (drums). Previously, they all had separate projects — among them, Braille Tapes, Young/Lost Ones, and Williams Jennings — but now all bandmates live in the Northwest, perform together and adopt songs from group to group to create intricately strummed guitar rock with vocal harmonies that can carry you away. With the members’ varied backgrounds, the band can sound like Pavement one moment and Neil Young & Crazy Horse the next. Today’s featured song, “Fallin’ Asleep,” begins with a mellow, rootsy vibe but then kicks into a full-on guitar jam.

You can catch them for yourself on May 8th at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard, or at several shows in Bellingham — check out their website for tour dates and to sample more music. For now, check out the video for today’s featured song: